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Hazrat Nizamuddin–Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express

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Hazrat Nizamuddin-Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express
Overview
Service typeRajdhani Express
LocaleKerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi
First service3 July 1993; 32 years ago (1993-07-03)
Current operator(s)Northern Railways
Route
TerminiThiruvananthapuram Central (TVC)
Hazrat Nizamuddin (NZM)
Stops21
Distance travelled2,848.2 km (1,770 mi)
Average journey time41 hrs 30 mins (45 hrs 00 mins in Monsoon)
Service frequencyTri-weekly
Train number(s)12431 / 12432
On-board services
Class(es)
  • AC 1st Class
  • AC 2 Tier
  • AC 3 Tier
Seating arrangementsYes
Sleeping arrangementsYes
Catering facilitiesPantry car
On-board catering
E-catering
Observation facilitiesLarge windows
Baggage facilitiesLuggage Cum Braker van / Generator Car
Technical
Rolling stockLHB coach
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification100%
Operating speed69 km/h (43 mph) average including halts (63.5 km/h (39 mph) in Monsoon)
Rake sharing
Route map
Legend
 Thiruvananthapuram Central
Kollam - Kasaragod
Alappuzha
Ernakulam Junction
Thrissur
Shoranur Junction
Kozhikode
Kannur
Kasaragod
Kerala
Karnataka
border
 Mangaluru Junction
Udupi - Karwar
Karwar
Karnataka
Goa
border
 Madgaon Junction
Ratnagiri - Surat
Ratnagiri
Panvel Junction
Vasai Road
Maharashtra
Gujarat
border
 Surat
Vadodara Junction
Ratlam - Kota
Ratlam Junction
Madhya Pradesh
Rajasthan
border
 Kota Junction
Rajasthan
New Delhi
border
 Hazrat Nizamuddin
12431 - Trivandrum → Hazrat Nizamuddin
12432 - Hazrat Nizamuddin → Trivandrum

The 12431 / 12432 Hazrat Nizamuddin–Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express is a Rajdhani Express train service in India, connecting Hazrat Nizamuddin in the country capital New Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram Central, the capital of Kerala state.[1] It is the Rajdhani Express with the longest route, covering 2,848.2 km (1,770 mi) in about 41 hours 30 mins running at 69 km/h (43 mph) average speed.[2] In the Monsoon Season every year from 1st June to 31st October, this train follows a Monsoon Timetable aimed to ensure passenger safety & less operational problem due to landslides which are very common & quite frequent in occurrence in Konkan Railway route. In Monsoon season the train takes 45 hrs 30 mins as 12431 Rajdhani Express covering 2,848.2 km (1,770 mi) running at 63 km/h (39 mph) average speed and takes 44 hrs 30 mins as 12432 Rajdhani Express covering 2,848.2 km (1,770 mi) running at 64 km/h (40 mph) average speed

The train number is 12431/12432 which runs only on Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from Thiruvananthapuram Central to Hazrat Nizamuddin also it reverse runs in Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Thiruvananthapuram Central. It connects the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan & New Delhi.[3]

History

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At the time of its introduction it was travelling from Kerala to New Delhi via Ernakulam, Erode, Chennai, Vijayawada, Nagpur, Bhopal, Jhansi & Agra having a longer time table. Timings were Nizamuddin 09.30 am, Agra 11.44 am, Jhansi 14.25 pm, Bhopal 18.05 pm, Nagpur 23.40 pm, Vijayawada 09.25 am, Chennai (Madras) arrival 15.25 pm & departure 15.55 pm, Katpadi passing 17.39 pm, Erode 21.24 pm, Ernakulam (Kochi) 02.25 am, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) 06.10 am. In return timings were Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) 18.35 pm, Ernakulam (Kochi) 22.25 pm, Erode 03.31 am, Chennai (Madras) arrival 08.45 am & departure 09.10 am, Vijayawada 15.20 pm, Nagpur 01.05 pm, Bhopal 06.40 am, Jhansi 10.20 am, Agra 12.59 am, Nizamuddin 15.15 pm. It used to cover 3,091.2 km (1,921 mi) in 44 hrs 40 mins running at 69 km/h (43 mph) average speed. Until 1998, there were only three Rajdhani Express from Delhi to South India. Trivandrum Rajdhani Express was a weekly train back then having rake sharing agreement with weekly Bangalore Rajdhani Express. But after 1 April 1998, following opening of Konkan Railway it got permanently re-routed via Kota, Vadodara, Vasai, Panvel, Ratnagiri, Madgaon, Karwar, Udupi, Mangalore, Kannur, Kozhikode, Shoranur Junction, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha & Kollam route. The timings after permanent diversion in Konkan Railway were Nizamuddin 09.45 am; Kota 14.55 pm; Vadodara 21.41 pm; Vasai Road 01.16 am; Panvel 02.35 am; Ratnagiri 07.15 am; Madgaon 10.35 am; Karwar 11.38 am; Udupi 14.20 pm, Mangalore 15.45 pm, Shoranur 21.20 pm; Ernakulam 23.30 pm; Alappuzha 00.30 am; Kollam 02.00 am, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) 03.15 am. Return timings were Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) 18.35 pm; Kollam 19.43 pm; Alappuzha 21.12 pm; Ernakulam 22.15 pm; Shoranur 00.15 am; Mangalore 05.45 am; Udupi 06.59 am; Karwar 09.45 am; Madgaon 10.55 am; Ratnagiri 14.10 pm; Panvel 18.50 pm; Vasai Road 20.10 pm; Vadodara 00.55 am; Kota 07.05 am; Nizamuddin 12.05 pm; Later owing to bad timings, in 1999 timings were changed to Nizamuddin 11.15 am; Kota 16.25 pm; Vadodara 22.58 pm; Vasai Road 03.33 am; Panvel 04.53 am; Ratnagiri 09.35 am; Madgaon 12.53 am; Karwar 13.55 am; Udupi 16.38 pm, Mangalore 18.03 pm, Shoranur 23.03 pm; Ernakulam 01.13 pm; Alappuzha 02.13 am; Kollam 03.40 am, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) 04.45 am. Return timings were made Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) 19.20 pm; Ernakulam 23.00 pm; Mangalore 06.20 am; Madgaon 11.30 am; Panvel 19.25 pm; Vadodara 01.25 am; Kota 07.50 am; Nizamuddin 12.50 pm.

Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express standing at Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station.

In initial days the train had very few stops. Until 1999 it was the one-stop Rajdhani between Panvel and Hazrat Nizamuddin stopping at Vadodara only. Thereafter stop of Kota was introduced in this section. Despite this the train runs non-stop between Kota Junction and Vadodara Junction section 528.3 km (328 mi), which is the longest non-stop run in the country. But from 2022 it was provided stoppage at Ratlam Junction, this making it to loose the name longest non-stop train.[4]

Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani in its ICF avatar
Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express in its iconic Kerala Tourism vinyl wrappings.

It has a record for the highest section speed, reaching 104 km/h (65 mph) between Ratnagiri and Sawantwadi Road (225 km or 140 mi in 2 h 10 min). It also gets a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph) between Nagda and Hazrat Nizamuddin (267 km). It moves at an average speed of 69 km/h (43 mph) between Nizamuddin and Thiruvananthapuram. In the Monsoon Season every year from 1st June to 31st October, all the trains in Konkan Railway route follows a Monsoon Timetable to ensure passenger safety & less operational problem due to landslides which are very common & quite frequent in occurrence.

Till the introduction of Madgaon Rajdhani Express in 2015, this was the sole Rajdhani Express that traversed through Konkan Railway.

Coach composition

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The Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani generally has Two AC 1st Class, 3 AC 2 tier, 12 AC 3 tier coaches, 1 pantry car, and 2 luggage cum generator coaches making a total of 23 LHB coach. Back in 1995, the train had 11 coaches only.

It shares its rakes with Chennai Rajdhani Express, Secunderabad Rajdhani Express and Madgaon Rajdhani Express. Earlier, it also shared its rake with the Bangalore Rajdhani Express.

Coach position

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This coach positioning is for 12431 at Thiruvananthapuram Central.

Loco 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 22
WAP 7 EOG H2 H A5 A4 A3 A2 A1 PC B12 B11 B10 B9 B8 B7 B6 B5 B4 B3 B2 B1 EOG

Rake sharing with

Route

[edit]

Route and halts

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Kerala

  1. Thiruvananthapuram Central
  2. Kollam Junction
  3. Alappuzha
  4. Ernakulam Junction
  5. Thrissur
  6. Shoranur Junction
  7. Kozhikode
  8. Kannur
  9. Kasaragod

Karnataka

  1. Mangaluru Junction
  2. Udupi
  3. Karwar

Goa

  1. Madgaon Junction

Maharashtra

  1. Ratnagiri
  2. Panvel Junction
  3. Vasai Road

Gujarat

  1. Surat
  2. Vadodara Junction

Madhya Pradesh

  1. Ratlam Junction

Rajasthan

  1. Kota Junction

Delhi

  1. Hazrat Nizamuddin

Abstract 12431/12432 Normal Time Table

[edit]

Up Direction:-

Station code Station name Arrival Departure
TVC Thiruvananthapuram Central 19.15
QLN Kollam Junction 20.16 20.19
ERS Ernakulam Junction 22.45 22.55
SRR Shoranur Junction 00:55 01.00
MAJN Mangaluru Junction 05.55 06.05
MAO Madgaon Junction 11.00 11.10
PNVL Panvel Junction 19.00 19.05
BSR Vasai Road 20.15 20.20
ST Surat 23.20 23.24
BRC Vadodara Junction 00.50 01.00
RTM Ratlam Junction 04.00 04.03
KOTA Kota Junction 07.18 07.28
NZM Hazrat Nizamuddin 12:45

Down direction:-

Station code Station name Arrival Departure
NZM Hazrat Nizamuddin 06:15
KOTA Kota Junction 11.05 11.15
RTM Ratlam Junction 14.14 14.17
BRC Vadodara Junction 17.30 17.40
ST Surat 19.06 19.10
BSR Vasai Road 22.10 22.15
PNVL Panvel Junction 23.30 23.35
MAO Madgaon Junction 07.25 07.35
MAJN Mangaluru Junction 12.35 12.45
SRR Shoranur Junction 17:40 17.45
ERS Ernakulam Junction 19.45 19.55
QLN Kollam Junction 22.24 22.27
TVC Thiruvananthapuram Central 23.45

Abstract 12431/12432 Monsoon Timetable

[edit]

Up Direction:-

Station code Station name Arrival Departure
TVC Thiruvananthapuram Central 14.45
QLN Kollam Junction 15.54 15.57
ERS Ernakulam Junction 18.25 18.35
SRR Shoranur Junction 20:35 20.40
MAJN Mangaluru Junction 01.35 01.45
MAO Madgaon Junction 07.00 07.10
PNVL Panvel Junction 16.55 17.00
BSR Vasai Road 18.15 18.20
ST Surat 21.53 22.02
BRC Vadodara Junction 23.30 23.40
RTM Ratlam Junction 03.00 03.03
KOTA Kota Junction 06.50 07.00
NZM Hazrat Nizamuddin 12:15

Down direction:-

Station code Station name Arrival Departure
NZM Hazrat Nizamuddin 06:15
KOTA Kota Junction 11.10 11.20
RTM Ratlam Junction 14.41 14.44
BRC Vadodara Junction 17.56 18.06
ST Surat 19.34 19.42
BSR Vasai Road 23.15 23.20
PNVL Panvel Junction 00.35 00.40
MAO Madgaon Junction 10.10 10.20
MAJN Mangaluru Junction 15.35 15.45
SRR Shoranur Junction 20:45 20.50
ERS Ernakulam Junction 22.50 23.00
QLN Kollam Junction 01.28 01.31
TVC Thiruvananthapuram Central 02.45

Traction

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Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express, hauled by the iconic WDP-3A (Toaster) locomotive, prior to the route electrification

This train used to get hauled by WDP3A from Thiruvananthapuram Central to Vadodara Junction and then used to get hauled by the WAP-7 of Vadodara shed. Then it was used to get hauled by WDP4D from Thiruvananthapuram Central to Vadodara Junction. But as the electrification of the konkan railway, Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani is hauled by the WAP-7 of Ghaziabad shed or Tuglakabad shed or of Vadodara shed.

Incidents

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On 18 October 2018, two coaches of TVC Rajdhani derailed at a staffed level crossing at Thandla Road railway station near Ratlam when a truck rammed into the train. There were no injuries to train passengers but the truck driver was killed due to the collision. The train continued its journey after a delay of 7 hours towards New Delhi.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "12431 Rajdhani Exp - Trivandrum Cntl to H Nizamuddin : Train Number, Running Status, Time Table". NDTV. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  2. ^ Information
  3. ^ Runs & States
  4. ^ "10 facts we bet you didn't know about Indian Railways - Know your railways". The Economic Times. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Truck rams Rajdhani, two coaches derailed | Indore News". The Times of India. TNN. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
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